Job Description
Position: Operations Officer – School of Biosciences
Position Details
* Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
* Salary: £33,002 – £35,608 per annum (potential progression to £39,906)
* Grade: 6
* Contract: Full time, Permanent
* Closing date: 22nd April 2026
Background
The College of Life and Environmental Sciences (LES) is one of five colleges at the University with around 5,000 students and an annual budget of £70m. The School of Biosciences is part of the College and focuses on life and environmental sciences.
Role Summary
The Operations Officer will provide high‑quality operational and administrative support to the School of Biosciences, ensuring efficient daily operations and contributing to continuous service improvements.
Main Duties
* Financial management – oversee budget planning, financial reporting, non‑staff expenses, purchase orders, invoicing and reconciliations.
* HR and recruitment – manage full recruitment cycle for core‑funded and research staff, oversee onboarding, contract extensions and workforce planning.
* Operational and governance – provide administrative support to School leadership, prepare reports, briefing documents and support governance meetings.
* Event and project coordination – support planning and execution of School‑wide initiatives, strategic projects and high‑profile visits.
* Process improvement – identify efficiencies, streamline processes and ensure compliance with policies and best practice.
* Line management – lead, mentor and support Operations support staff, ensuring workload distribution and professional development.
* Flexible and collaborative working – deliver responsive service and adapt to evolving priorities.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
* Professional experience of effective business operations.
* Strong knowledge of Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams).
* Experience organising meetings and taking minutes.
* Excellent communication skills and stakeholder engagement.
* Attention to detail and high accuracy.
* Excellent time management, prioritisation and organisational skills.
* Ability to respond independently to unforeseen problems.
* Capacity to handle multiple tasks with conflicting deadlines.
* Capability to work with minimal supervision and manage own workload.
Benefits
* 40 days paid holiday per year.
* One paid day per year for volunteering.
* Occupational sick pay.
* Pension scheme.
* Three subsidised day nurseries.
Contact Information & Notes
Informal enquiries to Claire Cooper, email: c.e.cooper@bham.ac.uk
Use of AI in applications: The University will assess written elements of applications for authenticity. Reliance on AI tools may result in exclusion from interview.
Equality and Diversity Statement
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing barriers experienced by some groups in our community and hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre focuses on improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability as a key part of our strategy.
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